In 2023, I let my health slip.
It started innocently enough – skipping a workout here, choosing junk food there.
But soon, that neglect bled into other areas of my life. My room was a disaster, my to-do list was out of control, my business was falling apart, and I felt completely drained. The chaos in my environment mirrored the chaos in my mind.
At first, I didn't even realize what was happening.
It felt like life was just getting busier and more overwhelming. I thought I could let a few things slide and it wouldn't matter.
That’s when it hit me – The chaos in my environment mirrored the chaos in my mind.
This was my "aha" moment.
I realized that the small, seemingly insignificant decisions I made each day were shaping my entire life. If I wanted to see a change, I needed to start with the basics.
If I wanted to achieve the greatness I always aspired to, than I needed to take pride in the areas I wanted to excel in.
I've always wanted to be the best at what I do, to be successful, and to leave a lasting impact. I knew I couldn’t do that unless I led by example in my own life. It was a harsh realization, but a necessary one.
So I decided to make a change.
I started by cleaning my room. I organized my workspace. I committed to regular exercise.
As I took small, deliberate actions to improve my life, everything else began to fall into place.
The benefits were almost immediate.
My thinking became clearer, and my productivity soared.
My energy levels were up and so was my motivation.
I made more money in my business, became healthier, grew my confidence, and felt high on life.
Improving one area of life allowed me to see improvements in all parts of it.
Why is This the Case?
Because how you do one thing is how you do everything.
Your actions set the standard for your character traits. Every small action you take sends a message to your subconscious about who you are and what you value.
Every action is like a vote towards the type of person you wish to become. And no vote goes to waste.
Pay Attention to Your Actions
If there is one thing I realized, it is that actions speak louder than words.
If someone is rude to a waiter, they're likely rude to everyone else.
If someone is okay with being late to a meeting, they’ll be late in other areas of their life.
If someone cheats in a game, they’ll likely cheat in other areas too.
The small actions you take every day are bigger than you think.
They show who you are. They set the standard for your behavior in more significant areas of your life.
Do you skip workouts?
Do you let dishes pile up in the sink?
Do you leave your bed unmade in the morning?
Do you leave your room or workspace cluttered?
Do you overlook opportunities for small acts of kindness?
Do you mindlessly scroll through social media during breaks?
Do you break promises to yourself, like starting a new habit but not following through?
These small actions might seem insignificant, but they reflect your standards.
If you accept mediocrity in one part of your life, you've set the standard for what you accept in other parts. And you've done this without knowing.
You don’t rise to the level of your desires; you fall to the level of your standards. - Sam Ovens
Set high standards for yourself, even in the smallest tasks, and watch how it transforms the bigger picture of your life.
The Science Behind It
95% of your actions are the same as the day before, happening subconsciously.
These behaviors are ingrained within you, but they’re not set in stone.
Thanks to neuroplasticity, our brains can change and rewire.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize. It does this by forming new neural connections throughout life.
This means you can reprogram your brain to develop new habits and behaviors.
You have the power to change. If your brain can be programmed to do things you don’t want, it can also be programmed to do the things you do want.
By consciously making small changes, you can start to rewire your brain for success.
Why most people struggle
You have these desires of the person you want to be. Maybe you want to make more money, have a better body, or become someone of higher value.
The only thing stopping you from achieving that is the standards you set for yourself.
That’s the only difference between the person you are now and the person you want to be.
But the problem is that you struggle to stay disciplined.
You struggle to do what it takes to meet these standards. The way to fix this is by starting small. When you look up to the people you admire, understand they started at zero.
You’re looking at someone who is at level 100 and trying to play at their level. Of course, you’ll fail and lose motivation and discipline. You haven’t gained the experience needed to play at that level yet. Your character hasn’t been developed yet. You need to start small and build up towards it.
In my experience, it can take 7 days to build your discipline. Here’s how you can begin to implement these changes in your life:
The 7-Day Life Upgrade
To help you start this change, we'll focus on one part of your life that you feel is most lacking.
For the next 7 days, you'll redefine and live by higher standards in this area.
Step 1: Identify What’s Missing
Think about the area of your life that feels most neglected or lacking.
Is it your health, finances, relationships, or personal growth?
Whatever you feel is missing the most is likely what you deem most important.
Start there. You have the opportunity to rebuild that part of your life from the ground up.
Example: If you feel your health is most lacking, this will be your focus for the next 7 days.
Step 2: Define Your New Standards
Write down what your ideal standards look like for this area of your life. Be specific and clear about what you want to achieve.
Example for Health:
Eat a nutritious breakfast every morning.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes daily.
Drink 8 glasses of water each day.
Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
If you are not clear on what needs to be done, you will revert to your default settings. Discipline loves clarity.
Step 3: Commit to Living These Standards for 7 Days
For the next seven days, make a solemn promise to yourself to live by the new standards you've set.
Each morning, take a few minutes to reflect on the decisions you'll make that day.
As you go about your daily routine, choose to align your actions with these standards. Do so consciously.
This will need discipline, intention, and a willingness to break old habits.
But, as the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said:
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
Commit to these standards for just seven days. You'll be amazed at how tiny, steady actions cause big, lasting changes in your life.
Step 4: Daily Reflection and Adjustment
At the end of each day, take a few minutes to reflect on how well you adhered to your new standards. Write down what you did well and where you can improve.
Adjust your actions for the next day based on these reflections.
Example Reflection Questions:
Did I eat a nutritious breakfast today?
Did I exercise for 30 minutes?
How much water did I drink?
Did I get enough sleep?
If you didn’t meet these standards, adjust them. Lower the bar until you can consistently meet your goals. This process of iteration will build your confidence and ensure steady progress.
Step 5: Celebrate Your Progress
You need to give yourself positive reinforcement.
If you want to reprogram your mind, you need to celebrate when it is doing the right things.
This creates a positive feedback loop.
Think of it like watering a plant. Each time you celebrate a small win, you’re giving your brain the nourishment it needs to grow better habits.
Acknowledge and celebrate your efforts, no matter how small they seem.
Each day you live by your new standards is a step closer to becoming the person you want to be. This positive reinforcement will help you stay motivated and committed.
Step 6: Evaluate After 7 Days
After the 7 days, check your progress. How do you feel?
What improvements have you noticed in your chosen area of focus?
Reflect on the changes and decide how you want to continue. You can maintain these new standards or set new ones for another area of your life.
As you continue, gradually increase the standards and challenges you set for yourself. Your character develops with each new win. This requires bigger challenges to grow, just like leveling up in a game.
This is self-actualization. Your confidence grows. Your aspirations for what you believe is possible also grow.
Life is too short to play small.
Until next time,
Stefan
P.S. If you're ready to elevate your standards and transform your life, check out the Peak Performer System.
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